The matter was of grave importance, and His Majesty had strictly instructed Tang Muzhi not to reveal it to anyone—not even to Yun Shu herself.
So he could only respond with half-truths and vague reassurances for now.
Sensing the flicker of doubt in Yun Shu's eyes, Tang Muzhi shifted his gaze toward the nearly completed embankment. The topic change was seamless, almost instinctive.
"I heard from Grandfather that Your Highness has been visiting the construction site daily, supervising the work personally. You've even lost weight over it."
Yun Shu tilted her head, unconvinced. "Have I, really?"
She had never been particularly plump to begin with. With her slender frame and delicate limbs, it was unlikely she could slim down in any noticeable way.
She shook her head. "My grandfather always exaggerates. I don't ride here myself every single day. If anything, it's probably my poor horse that's grown thin from all the running."
A horse losing weight after two hours of riding a day? If that were true, then the horses used by couriers would be little more than skeletons by now.
Tang Muzhi let out a soft laugh.
"Your Highness seems quite invested in the embankment's construction."
"Of course. Do you know how important this project is?"
There it was—someone had finally asked.
The embankment outside the capital had been under construction for years, intended only as a precaution. Up until now, it had never been put to use. As a princess, Yun Shu had no real obligation to involve herself so deeply.
She had anticipated this moment from the start. When she began making regular trips to the site, she knew people would start wondering. It was only a matter of time.
She just hadn't expected the first person bold enough to ask would be Tang Muzhi, especially now that he was preparing to leave the capital.
Yun Shu blinked and said solemnly, "Just knowing the embankment is there brings peace of mind. Perhaps it hasn't been needed in years past, but what if this year brings a true deluge?"
Tang Muzhi paused. There was something strange about her phrasing.
Was he reading too much into it, or had she meant exactly what she said?
After a brief hesitation, he tried to probe her lightly, adopting a joking tone.
"From the way Your Highness speaks, one might think you actually expect heavy rain this year."
"You noticed?"
To his surprise, Yun Shu didn't deny it in the slightest. In fact, she admitted it openly and frowned.
"Perhaps I am overthinking it—just frightening myself for no reason. But the dream I had was far too vivid."
"…A dream?" Tang Muzhi looked at her in confusion.
"Yes. Just a dream." Yun Shu sighed.
"I dreamed that the capital was struck by torrential rain. The embankment collapsed. More than ten thousand commoners were injured or killed, and even the imperial palace—perched on the highest ground—was submerged to the knees.
At first, I dismissed it. It was only a dream. But days later, Father Emperor assigned me to the Waterworks Bureau. That alone might have been nothing. Yet somehow, I discovered that Tang Bingfu—may the heavens curse that wretched official—had been embezzling the funds meant for the embankment's repairs!"
She looked him in the eye.
"Tell me. Is that not too many coincidences to ignore?"
"…All that truly happened?"
Tang Muzhi had never encountered anything like this before. He didn't know whether dreams could foretell disasters.
But if he were in her shoes—if he had dreamt of ten thousand innocent lives lost, only to later uncover corruption that might bring that nightmare to life—he would also err on the side of caution.
He wouldn't dare treat it as mere fancy.
As Tang Muzhi fell into thought, the workers nearby, who had overheard fragments of their conversation, began whispering among themselves.
"Did you hear that? What a coincidence. Could there really be a flood this year?"
"No way. This is the capital! Have you ever seen it flood?"
"Not in my lifetime, no. But my great-grandfather told stories. There was one year when it rained for half a month straight and the city flooded badly. Rare, sure. But not impossible."
"And Princess Sheng An—her status is noble beyond compare! If the heavens took pity and sent her a warning through a dream, so she could protect us… that wouldn't be so far-fetched, would it?"
"…Now you're scaring me."
"They say Tang Bingfu has been with the Waterworks Bureau for years. And it was only this year that his crimes were discovered! Not only that, but isn't Princess Sheng An a woman? Since when have women ever held official posts in court?
But she was appointed—and not just anywhere, but there! At the Waterworks Bureau!
One or two coincidences can be dismissed. But all this together? That's too much. There must be more to it."
"In that case, shouldn't we prepare for the worst? The embankment may be strong now, but if it really does flood, who's to say what might happen?"
"If the rains come, grain prices will rise again. Maybe we should start stocking up."
"Agreed! When I get home tonight, I'll make sure my older brothers and my uncle's family start storing food, just in case."
…
The murmurs reached Yun Shu's ears, but she pretended not to hear them.
After all, this had been one of her goals from the start.
A rainstorm fierce enough to flood the imperial palace was no ordinary downpour. Even if the embankment held, the resulting floods and waterlogging could still paralyze the city and affect tens of thousands.
She couldn't openly declare she knew the future or had some magical insight. But claiming she had a dream? That was just plausible enough.
People of this era still held a healthy respect for omens and portents. A princess dreaming of disaster would certainly stir caution.
She smiled to herself, secretly proud of her own cleverness. With a little help behind the scenes, the story began to spread.
In less than two days, the tale of Princess Sheng An's ominous dream had swept through the capital.
People didn't need much convincing. Grain was a necessity. Buying a month or two's worth of rations to keep at home was no real loss, even if the flood never came.
And Princess Sheng An had a good reputation. Her past actions already bordered on the miraculous in the eyes of the common folk. So when this rumor took hold, many chose to believe it.
One by one, families began to stock up.
Grain prices in the capital rose from thirteen wen per dou to fifteen.
Still affordable, yes. But the increase was undeniable.
Naturally, those who disliked Yun Shu—and had been waiting for her to make a misstep—jumped at the opportunity. They accused her of maliciously spreading rumors to manipulate the market and harm the people.
The charge was sent directly to the imperial court.
Upon reading the memorial and reviewing the situation, Emperor Xuanwu furrowed his brow.
"…What?"